Russellville’s Mason McNeill (right) leaps for the ball during the Cyclones’ recent victory over Fort Smith Southside. Russellville capped off its regular season with a 7-0 shutout over the Little Rock Hall Warriors on Monday during Senior Night festivities. (THE COURIER / submitted)

The Cyclones defeated the Little Rock Hall Warriors 7-0 to mark the occasion, while the Lady Cyclones conducted a Red-White scrimmage since Hall’s girls soccer team forfeited last week due to not enough players.

Cyclones head coach Jared Fuller said the victory was a nice way to spend Senior Night.

“It was a good victory,” he said. “It took us a little while to get up on them, but it was glad they got to experience a game like that with that kind of victory.

“It was nice getting to play around instead of having to play with the urgency and stress that comes with a close game. It was nice to give those guys that have played defender a chance to play forward, too.”

The Lady Cyclones (8-9, 7-7 7A/6A-Central Conference) were unable to find a replacement in time for Monday’s match, even though Senior Night activities were rained out last week.

The Cyclones (9-8, 7-7) enter the Class 6A state tournament at Searcy High School as the No. 3 seed from the East and will play the Sheridan Yellow Jackets in the first round on Thursday.

“They’re the No. 6 seed from the south,” Fuller said. “We don’t take anyone lightly, but that should be a warm-up game for us.”

Fuller said if the tournament shakes out the way most think it will, Russellville will face the Lake Hamilton Wolves in the following round and the Searcy Lions in the semifinals.

“It’s going to be a tough game,” Fuller said. “We’ll have to focus. Searcy is our rival and they’re always good.”

On the other side of the bracket, Fuller speculated that the Siloam Springs Panthers would advance to the finals.

“Siloam is a very good team,” he said. “One of us [Searcy or Russellville] will likely face them in the finals, but there are a lot of other teams to watch out for. It’s the playoffs. You never know how it’s going to line out.”

The Lady Cyclones will be the No. 3 or 4 seed in the state playoffs, but head coach Kelly Young said that it would not be finalized until later today.

“I know Northside and Southside have to play each other, and that could effect us,” she said. “We’ll get points either way because we beat both of those teams, but even with those points, I think we will be seeded behind Mountain Home.”

Early in the season Young described the Lady Cyclones as an inexperienced, young team and stated Russellville would endure a “rebuilding year.” But things have begun to fall into place for the Lady Cyclones and Young’s opinion on their chances at making a run have improved.

“I wasn’t quite as hopeful at the start of the year, but I wouldn’t rule us out,” she said. “From where we started to where we are right now, we are peaking at the right time. We’ve had a lot of changes along the way. We’ve changed formations, positions and starters. I think we have a good shot.”

Whether the Lady Cyclones are the third seed or fourth seed, all roads lead to the Searcy Lady Lions.

“Searcy will always be tough,” she said.

If Russellville is the fourth seed, it’ll be in the opposite bracket from Searcy and likely face them in the finals — if the Lady Cyclones manage to make it that far. If Russellville ends up as the third seed, RHS and Searcy could play each other in the semifinals.

“It doesn’t really matter,” Young said. “I’d really like to stay out of Searcy’s bracket and see them in the finals if for no other reason than to face them on a neutral field.”